The Count B Pacing Series is a proving ground for sophomore pacers, and with no one dominant colt emerging from this year’s series at Woodbine Racetrack

, the $52,400 final on Friday night promises to be something of a barnburner.

Rated the 6-5 co-favourites are the double entry of trainer Mark Ford, Artists Rally and My Gift To You.

The former, a black son of Real Artist out of The Panderosa mare, Spunky Gal, was second in the series opener two weeks ago, and fourth by less than two lengths in the sequel last Friday.

My Gift To You, meanwhile, missed the first leg of The Count B, but impressed with a second-place finish in the next installment on February 6. A BC-bred son of Camluck, out of the No Nukes mare, Eternal Gift, My Gift To You recently returned to Canada after a successful stint in New York and Pennsylvania, where he posted two wins, a second and a third in four starts.

The Ford stablemates are only two of the contenders worth watching.

One should not discount Herestopatrick, who was sent out from Mark Austin’s shedrow to capture his opening leg of the series, then placed third in the second edition. The homebred son of Apaches Fame, owned by Mike
Cecile of Windsor, is rated at 3-1 in the morning line.

Nor should one forget about Midnite Romp, a gelded son of Million Dollar Cam who improved from third in the series opener, to a win in the sequel under the guidance of Rick Zeron. Dave Gibson of Cavan, Ontario trains Midnite Romp, who improved his lifetime speed mark to 1:53.1 in last week’s effort and is rated at 9-2.

Catch the dramatic finish to The Count B Pacing Series tomorrow night at Woodbine Racetrack. The card also features the opening round of the Ontario Girls series for four-year-old pacing mares.

(WEG)

To view Friday’s entries, click here.